Supes act to change hiring of aides

Wednesday

Dec 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - County officials on Tuesday changed the rules for hiring legislative assistants, the five aides who each work closely with one of the five elected members of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

Zachary K. Johnson

STOCKTON - County officials on Tuesday changed the rules for hiring legislative assistants, the five aides who each work closely with one of the five elected members of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

Currently, each board member can pick his aide-de-camp without board approval, though that was a change made last decade. The new rule is a return to the requirement of a board vote to approve the hiring of a new assistant.

Historically, the filling of the post at the highest level of county government with a vote could be contentious, and that was the case Tuesday, when the board voted 3-1 to make the change back.

"This board wishes to collectively act to restrict the potential choice made by my successor," said Supervisor Leroy Ornellas, who has termed out and is the only supervisor not returning to office in 2013. "Each supervisor up here, including myself, has chosen the individual they wished to work with, free from any interference from the rest of the board." He cast the dissenting vote.

In the brief discussion that preceded the vote, Chairman Steve Bestolarides responded to Ornellas by referring to another meeting where legislative aides were on the agenda.

"I will just for the sake of non-argument reference you to the Feb. 27, 2007, comments and arguments you so steadfastly made why we should approve something like this."

At that meeting, Ornellas voted against another ordinance making changes to the legislative assistant position after saying it was because it stated the assistants "serve(d) at the pleasure of the board member." He also raised scenarios in which the board might want to block an appointment.

On Tuesday, Ornellas also questioned the motive of this year's proposed change, saying it targeted his own legislative assistant, Scott Tyrrell, who has applied to fill the position for Ornellas' successor. "This is directed against one person," Ornellas said.

Earlier this year, an observation Tyrrell related to Ornellas eventually led to an investigation into an alleged violation of the state's open-meeting laws by Bestolarides and two other supervisors. The District Attorney's Office investigated and found no evidence of such a violation.

But Bestolarides said the change is meant to empower the board as a whole, which is consistent with other changes the board has already made this year. He pointed to a previous rule change that makes it easier for board members to set the agenda at board meetings, a role that has traditionally belonged to the chairman. "This is not a retaliation," Bestolarides said.

As of yet, incoming Supervisor Bob Elliott hasn't picked a legislative aide. The county has advertised the position, which has a base annual salary from $68,844 to $75,888.

"I will make my selection based on who I think is the best fit for the job," he said. And if his pick after that process goes before the rest of the board in a vote, Elliott said, "I would expect my fellow supervisors to support my decision."

And it's possible a vote won't even be necessary.

The new rule doesn't go into effect for 30 days, a few days after Elliott is scheduled to be sworn into office.